So often when conversations of necromancy, spirit work, and familiars pop up, they revolve around the spirits of animals, of humans, of faeries, etc. We speak of turning the skull red to wake up the buck. We talk about our foxes and robins that spectrally flutter about, keeping us safe from harm and teaching us forbidden knowledge. We talk about congress with the spirits of the wilderness for true connection.
What we often leave out of discussion is the Magistellus Flora, the familiar within the verdure.
Yes, plants can be familiars.
Witches, magicians, and shamans have been allying themselves with these spirits for a long, long time. From the great evergreens that some saw as wooded gods to the lowly Queen Anne’s Lace, the spirits within the green things have worked with those who give them gifts and care, and in return give protection, fortune, and blessings.
One form of this relationship surfaces in Germany. Folk magicians and witches begin to create small wooded idols and fetishes out of the roots of the mandrake and bryony called alrauns. This ritual begins to float from place to place, creating differing versions using different roots. It carries into today where the versions and manifold and the witch is presented with the opportunity of creating an alraun using whatever plant whose spirit that they wish to connect with, so long as its root is able to be made use of.
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Before any ritual begins, the witch must search out for a plant which may be made into an alraun. If they wish to follow tradition, mandragora, bryony, ash, and dandelion provide this. If, however, they find that they are seeking the blessings of a specific spirit that resides within a certain plant, they may wish to diverge from the original plants. The same ritual will need to be undertaken, so this must be taken into account.
Once a plant has been found, the witch must first introduce themselves to the spirit and implore whether the spirit would wish to go into the ritual. If the spirit refuses, so shall you find another. The spirit can be compelled in the rite to subservience, but it is a vicious thing to maintain, and in the end, it will seek wrath upon the cutter. Offerings and gifts may be made to implore the spirit. With food and drink, they may be more willing to comply.
With the compliance of the spirit and a proper plant chosen, the witch must then look skyward, for the rite may only take place on a Friday which is under the Dark of the Moon, or the New Moon. The rite must be completed before the sun rises.
When standing before the plant in the nocturnal hours, the witch will face West. With their forefinger, they will trace and dig a circle around the plant three times. Then they shall dig around the root, making sure not to damage the roots. Once the plant’s roots are uncovered, the root must be pulled. Some traditions say that this must not be the hand of the witch who pulls it, as the spirit might seek burning vengeance upon the hand that uproots it.
Once the root is uncovered, it must be immediately washed in fresh water. After this, the root must be lightly carved into a loose human semblance, usually carved to be the opposite sex of the cutter. The shavings of the root will be swept into the hole which the cutter has pulled the plant. Along with this, the witch will place a bent silver coin. The hole will be covered and the witch will walk away from it with the root.
The root will be submerged into dirt again for a time, in the dark still, and in a liminal place. Many choose the sides of a crossroads, some choose places near churchyards or graveyards. Until it is once again Friday and the Dark of the Moon, it will be fed with water and milk.
Within this time, a bed or coffin shall be made for the spirit. Wooden cigar boxes are often a popular choice for this. Carve it, draw on it, and mark it for the spirit who will inhabit it. Make it sacred with words and smoke. Make it ready to house the spirit.
Once the time has come for the spirit to be brought out, it will be again dug up, but this time washed in wine. The plant will be cut off, leaving only the root behind. The small shoots that abstract the shape will also be cut, leaving behind a human figure made out of root. These will also be placed within the ground and buried with another offering.
When the witch brings it home, the root must be dried. Some call for the root to be placed within the oven with verbena while others call for it to be wrapped up in a dry cloth in a warm place.
Upon the time that the alraun is completed, it will be wrapped within a clean white shroud and placed within the coffin until it is called upon. While it is new and fresh, it should be called on often, no less than once a month, and fed each time with milk, honey, wine, or blood. It should be treated with care and respect, as the wrath that it can bring is known for being harrowing.
If ever the alraun is needed to be disposed of, it must be buried, preferably where it was originally dug up. It can, however, be sold or given to another. This poses risk though, as the buyer must never sell it for less than what they paid for it. Alrauns can be passed from parent to child, generation to generation, and it will serve faithfully to the family so long as it is fed and kept with care.
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